Pluralism and democracy increasingly targeted in US

If anti-Semitism is indeed on the rise in the US' seats of higher learning and elsewhere in the country, the federal and state governments of the US are obliged to stamp out by non-coercive means such divisive tendencies without delay. This is in view of the US' status as a foremost democracy of the world.

- BY LYNN OCKERSZ

Anti-Semitism and other forms of racism run antithetical to the principles of democracy and governments claiming to be democratic have no choice but to ensure that such blights do not take root in their countries. Accordingly, anti-Semitism and antipathy towards Palestinians and the Islamic faith, for instance, are in the same league of heinous offences that demand instant eradication by governments that are pledged to upholding democracy and its core principles and values.

However, the above responsibility does not devolve only on governments. The obligation is cast on all sections of society that cherish democracy to denounce racism in all its forms and to help in its eradication.

For example, if the Israeli state comes to be perceived as racist, the same applies to those sections in the Islamic and Arab world and outside who voice their support and by their selective silence promote those states and groups in the Middle East that are supportive of anti-Israeli militant violence that is pledged to destroying by whatever means the Jewish state. A solution to the Middle East conundrum needs to be entirely democratic in nature and should be sensitive to the prime needs of the principal parties to the conflict.